AJ Styles Talks Interacting With Vince McMahon, Turning Down WWE Deal In 2002, Nakamura In WWE, HHH

As we have previously reported, AJ Styles was recently a guest on Talk Is Jericho. In addition to discussing his big WWE debut, Styles talked about turning down a WWE deal in 2002, Shinsuke Nakamura's impending debut for NXT, who he would like to work with in the WWE, and his discussions with Vince McMahon regarding the AJ Styles character.

According to Styles, he had the opportunity to sign with WWE in 2002, but he passed it up because it was not the best deal for him to make at the time.

"I had the opportunity [to sign with WWE] before, in 2002, but it was just bad timing." Styles added, "not that I didn't want it. My wife was in college and that was her dream, so it was hard. It was a hard decision to make, but everything happened for a reason, I think. I really believe that I had to go other places to get to this point in my life. I really believe that and I wouldn't have changed anything."

'The Phenomenal One' claimed that Nakamura will find great success in NXT, as his skill and charisma will transcend cultural bounds.

"If you haven't seen Nakamura, you have to see it to go, 'wow, this guy's awesome!'" Styles continued, "oh man, the roof is going to blow off that place [when Nakamura debuts at NXT TakeOver: Dallas]. I really believe that."

When Jericho asked Styles who he is looking forward to facing in WWE, Styles quickly named Neville and Triple H.

"Neville, him and I worked a while back and to get in there with him now, he's a totally different guy and so am I. To get in there and wrestle him, I think that would be really fun. But there [are] a lot of guys that I'd like to get in the ring with. I want to get in the ring with Triple H. Some of the guys that I was in the ring with, but I didn't get to actually touch them at Royal Rumble. There [are] a lot of guys! I want to get in [the ring] with the entire roster, honestly."

As for whether Styles has interacted with McMahon much at this point, Styles indicated that he has spoken with McMahon about the AJ Styles character.

"[McMahon] and I did sit down and talk. We talked about this character that he wanted to see. I know this character that he's talking about because I was him, this guy who [has] had to fight for everything. And I'd refer back to when I wrestled in high school and college. I always thought, 'how dare this guy get on the mat with me and think that he's going to beat me. I take that as an insult and now you're going to have to pay the price for being on the mat with me. I'm going to hurt you. I'm not going to beat you. I'm going to hurt you in the process of beating you.' So I know that guy that he wants to see and that's an easy guy for me to be."

Click here to check out the entire podcast. If you use any of the quotes that appear in this article, please credit Talk Is Jericho with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Source: Talk Is Jericho